From Sisterhood to Motherhood

Saturday, June 1, 2013

We have a name!!!

We finally received our daughter's one and only update and photos! Birthday photos to be exact!! We are completely thrilled and cannot wait to hold her and kiss those cheeks. She has E's nose without a doubt. We have been asking E if he wanted a sister and it is hit or miss, he doesn't have a clue. Even when we showed him the photos, he quickly passed over them to get to photos of him. But then we got a video of baby sister and all of a sudden a baby sister isn't so bad (for now). So here we are at our one year anniversary of being a family that we name our newest member!

Let me introduce to you Elleigh Mun Freudenburg:

Sunday, May 26, 2013

A whole year later . . .

One year ago we met our shy but curious son about a million miles away in beautiful Seoul, South Korea! He was well loved and cared for by his fantastic foster family but we couldn't wait to love and care for him in person!

May 29th, 2012

I figured if we can survive that traveling experience from our hotel in Seoul to our house in Rochester still a team we were golden and all the other stuff will work itself out! We survived the drama that very very long day that felt like a 36 hour day (which it probably was).

May 30th, 2012

That trip to Seoul was a first for Dan and I. We have traveled internationally together (and separately), but on vacation to the beach or on mission trips; but honestly we are not the best travelers. But we were on a mission to create our family. We were hopped up on emotions and feeling completely lost as a minority in a foreign country.

New foods (chicken feet)

Touristy Adventures: Palace

Looking for dinner

We relied on each other and it was an absolutely beautiful start to our family.

Easter 2012 (just before traveling)

May 23rd, 2012 Aboard Korean Air headed for Seoul

It wasn't the first time our God has allowed us to be broken in order to build us back up stronger. Each step along the way to building our family has been difficult and heartbreaking. First infertility and all the procedures and disappointments that come with that, then the incredibly long wait in the Ethiopia program only to change the Korea program after a few years. Then seeing E's chubby photo and fall in love but have to wait another 16 months to touch him.

But what I can tell you today is that the wait was worth it. Yes, many will say the same but I really mean it. God used this time to help shape us into the parents we are, help prepare us for the never ending challenges, including the Mt Everest of paperwork related to E's adoption and citizenship. No matter how many times I attempted to plan the perfect time to travel to Korea, or to bring him home, or fit into the best schedule it didn't work.

Even our little family drama is important to our God and He has a perfect plan. however the real question isn't: does God know what He is doing? But it is: do we understand the long term plan? will we implement it perfectly? - not a chance but I am learning more and more about mercy and grace. I am not going to be the perfect homemaker, wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, or co-worker (even with the help of Pinterest!) But what I am is the daughter of the King of Creation and with His grace and mercy I can trust He has the plan and will never leave us. I am realizing few things can really be planned with any certainty except to be challenged and pushed the edge, good thing we are holding hands with the Almighty.

And who knows maybe they become best friends after all . . .

Mocha getting over her fear of bathtime

Friday, May 17, 2013

New Court Process

We have been eagerly awaiting news of the new family court decision in Korea as to how they are going to implement a new adoption law put in place last August. Unfortunately there has yet to be an American family travel to pick up their child since the new law went into effect. It is very sad and disappointing for everyone involved. The family court judges have gone back and forth as to how they wanted to proceed. Currently, the judges are requiring adoptive families to appear in court. In order to do this we must travel to Seoul, meet our child, wait a few days, go to court for 15 minutes, then one of two things: 1) go home and wait to travel back to Korea then spend another week in country or 2) wait in Korea for all the paperwork to be completed. (probably about a month). Financially it makes more sense to stay in Korea plus this gives us a wonderful opportunity to experience our children's birth culture on a whole new level compared to our short one week trip last year with Evan. We can make the most of it and be able to share that experience with Evan and one day tell baby sister all about it.

The first families scheduled for court are May 31st. We will be in prayer that this will be a smooth process and these families will be united with their children and the travel/paperwork process will go quickly!

We still have no idea when we will travel but we still hope before the end of the year. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to plan for the extended travel, preparing Evan, and baby sister's adjustment.

We are looking at some short-term apartment rentals, different kid-friendly cultural adventures to plan for, and trying to plan for the things at home to run smoothly while we are gone (Going to miss our little firecracker Mocha)

yes, this is her halloween costume, don't judge me people; I have a toddler that wanted to play dress up!

I have included some of our travel pics from last year to get us excited about traveling again! Just picture us with a toddler this year! yikes!!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Our First Parent Teacher Conference and Reflections

We recently attended Evan's first Parent Teacher conference at daycare. It wasn't surprising to hear how much he loves learning and that he is 'talkative'. Although there has been much improvement there is still room to grow when it comes to sharing! But this conference had me thinking about the last ten months, all the changes and how incredible our son is!

When we brought E home we were told he had about 4-5 Korean words, however anything that came out of his mouth I tried to get translated via a little translation app on my phone! Still not sure we understood anything other than "Oma and Apa" (Mom and Dad). It wasn't until late August after a trip to visit his cousins, PopPop and GG in Missouri and Arkansas that he started to try out the English language. He could already point to whatever we asked to identify but actual words were new. Since then he hasn't stopped talking. There is one phrase or word that still has us stumped. "Happy Cookie!" I swear that is how it is pronounced. Evan uses it to identify butterflies or a train. It was butterfly for the longest time and recently he will also use it to identify a train, "Happy Cookie Choo Choo Train". I get a kick out of it every time.

I assume he is perfectly normal for a 2.5 year old since the two words I hear most often are:
'NO!' and 'MINE!' and these words are at anytime, anywhere, all the time! (especially when in reference to Mocha wanting attention or Daddy wanting to share a snack). Just wait until he understands he is getting a sister, oh the fireworks!! not a baby sister but a toddler sister that will compete for every toy and millisecond of attention!

Evan knows the alphabet, both lower case and upper case, he spells out Everything, including menus and billboards. We still have a ways to go to learn the sounds of the letters though. He can count to 12, however I think he likes to add some variety on occasion and will add a strange sounding number in there. Evan loves, loves puzzles. Every time we venture to Savers for a sale we come home with several new puzzles. We especially love the Melissa and Doug 12- piece wood puzzle 4-pack such as this one:

He received a boy doll he named "Joey" for Christmas (he already had a boy doll named "Joey" at Dan's parents so why not have a Joey at home!?!) He has recently started to show more interest in Joey. He likes for Joey to eat at the dinner table with us and then will "read" Joey a book afterwards or while we prepare dinner. It is fun to watch him take care of Joey. (notice there is already a girl doll for baby sister next Christmas!)

Evan and I attend MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) every other Thursday at our church. Evan loves this time to play with his friends, do a craft and we always go to lunch afterwards with our friends! Evan has been starting to identify specific friends, such as "Hudson" and "Maddie" Two of his close friends from church and MOPS. He has started talking about friends at school also, but "Hudson" was the first friend that he has repeatedly asked about. I wish I had a better photo of E and H but this one of E and his playdate gang from this summer will have to do and then the second photo is of E and M this summer

So in a nutshell our son is amazing, and also the most ticklish kid ever!
I feel so honored and privileged to be his mother and am forever grateful for the many 'mothers' that have helped to and will continue to help raise him; Thank you Mrs. Choi (foster mom), Thank you GG (my mom), and Thank you Oma (Dan's mom - E has changed "grandma" to "oma") and to his birthmother for giving us the most incredibly amazing gift.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Easter Dress Up

I'm so excited my parents are coming for Easter I have decided to have another sale! Everything on this page is 25% off until March 31st or until I run out!

If you prefer to pay online I have set up an Amazon Payment account, please use my email: llfreud@hotmail.com

see this site for info

https://payments.amazon.com/sdui/sdui/home